The relationship between age at drinking onset and subsequent binge drinking among women

The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on March 25, 2009

To examine the association between age at drinking onset and subsequent binge drinking, and to examine whether there are differences in this association between four countries.

Overall, 12–26% reported binge drinking once or more per month in the four countries. Median age for starting drinking was 16 years in all four countries. Women who started drinking at 14 years or younger were significantly more likely to binge drink than women who started drinking at 19 years or older with adjusted odds ratios of 2.9 (95% confidence intervals 2.3–3.7), 2.8 (2.1–3.6) and 2.6 (1.9–3.4) for binge drinking in Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, respectively. Among Norwegian women the association was stronger with an adjusted odds ratio at 4.4 (3.5–5.6). The association in all four countries was more pronounced in women younger than 30 years than in older women.

In the four Nordic countries, there is a strong relation between age at drinking onset and later binge drinking. The strong relationship found in countries with such different alcohol cultures is most likely generalizable to other Western countries.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: mg@niph.dk

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Sociodemographic Differences in Binge Drinking g Adults --- 14 States, 2004
MMWR Weekly April 3, 2009 / 58(12);301-304

Binge drinking, defined in this study as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion,* was responsible for 43,731 (54.9%) of the estimated 79,646 alcohol-attributable deaths each year in the United States during 2001--2005.†

Healthy People 2010 calls for reducing the prevalence of binge drinking among adults from the 16.6% baseline in 1998 to 6.0% (1). An overarching goal of Healthy People is to eliminate health disparities among different segments of the population.§

To assess binge drinking by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, education level, and income level, CDC analyzed data from an optional module of the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, the most recent data available on binge drinking prevalence, frequency, and intensity (i.e., the number of drinks consumed per binge episode).

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the prevalence of binge drinking was more common among men (24.3%), persons aged 18--24 years (27.4%) and 2534 years (24.4%), whites (17.5%), and persons with household incomes >$50,000 (17.4%). However, after adjusting for sex and age, the highest average number of binge drinking episodes during the preceding 30 days was reported by binge drinkers whose household income was <$25,000. (4.9), and the highest average number of drinks per binge episode was reported by non-Hispanic blacks (8.4) and Hispanics (8.1).

These findings underscore the need to implement effective population-based prevention strategies (e.g., increasing alcohol excise taxes) and develop effective interventions targeted at groups at higher risk





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A model of access to and continuance in Alcoholics Anonymous



These data from a nationally representative sample of US adults with alcohol use disorders revealed a robust significant association of high symptom severity with access, continuation and discontinuation from Alcoholics Anonymous.

The association of high symptom severity and negative life events supports the behavioral economic model of AA access and continuation as proposed in this paper.

Variables associated with access to AA were also associated with continuation in AA, except for the variables for gender and education level. Women were less likely to attend AA, but more likely to continue attending AA. College educated respondents were less likely to attend AA, but more likely to continue attending AA.

A sub-group of US adults with severe externalizing disorders, identified in this study, is associated with access to and continuation in AA.

In the US there is a a significant geographic regional variation in access to and continuation in AA.

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Spirituality During Alcoholism Treatment and Continuous Abstinence for One Year

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine Volume 38, Number 4 / 2008 , pp. 391 - 406

The primary aim of this prospective study was to examine the role of several aspects of spirituality in maintaining abstinence from alcohol for one year in persons treated for alcohol dependence. The roles of alcohol abstinence self-efficacy and Alcoholics Anonymous affiliation were also examined.

Twenty-eight participants were categorized as continuously abstinent for one year. The strongest associations between 12 month abstinence and the variables of interest were discharge scores of abstinence self-efficacy and existential well-being, and increases during treatment in scores of private spiritual practices. Increased age demonstrated a significant association with positive outcome.

The associations of private spiritual practices, existential well-being, and abstinence self-efficacy with one year of continuous abstinence following treatment discharge suggest the importance of addressing issues related to these variables during alcoholism treatment. More research is needed to understand the role of these variables in promoting and maintaining abstinence and to determine whether or not a related intervention would improve abstinence rates.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: piderman.katherine@mayo.edu

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Alcohol-related and hepatocellular cancer deaths by country of birth in England and Wales: analysis of mortality and census data

Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on April 1, 2009

The incidence of and mortality from alcohol-related conditions, liver disease and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) are increasing in the UK. We compared mortality rates by country of birth to explore potential inequalities and inform clinical and preventive care.

Mortality from alcohol-related deaths (23 502 deaths) was particularly high for people born in Ireland (SMR for men [M]: 236, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 219–254; SMR for women [F]: 212, 95% CI: 191–235) and Scotland (SMR-M: 187, CI: 173–213; SMR-F 182, CI: 163–205) and men born in India (SMR-M: 161, CI: 144–181). Low alcohol-related mortality was found in women born in other countries and men born in Bangladesh, Middle East, West Africa, Pakistan, China and Hong Kong, and the West Indies. Similar mortality patterns were observed by country of birth for alcoholic liver disease and other liver diseases. Mortality from HCC (8266 deaths) was particularly high for people born in Bangladesh (SMR-M: 523, CI: 380–701; SMR-F: 319, CI: 146–605), China and Hong Kong (SMR-M: 492, CI: 168–667; SMR-F: 323, CI: 184–524), West Africa (SMR-M: 440, CI, 308–609; SMR-F: 319, CI: 165–557) and Pakistan (SMR-M: 216, CI: 113–287; SMR-F: 215, CI: 133–319).

These findings show persistent differences in mortality by country of birth for both alcohol-related and HCC deaths and have important clinical and public health implications. New policy, research and practical action are required to address these differences.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: neeraj.bhala@ctsu.ox.ac.uk

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Study on the affordability of alcoholic beverages in the European Union

Study on the affordability of alcoholic beverages in the European Union now available

In 2008 DG SANCO commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a study on "The affordability of alcoholic beverages in the European Union - Understanding the link between alcohol affordability, consumption and harms". Apart from an extensive study of literature, RAND Europe has consulted for this study a wide range of stakeholders (EU Member States, economic operators, public health NGOs, and other Directorates-General of the European Commission).

The responsibility for the content of this study lies with the authors, and the content does not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission; nor is the Commission responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

Report (1.9 MB)

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RETHINKING DRINKING

Do you enjoy a drink now and then? Many of us do, often when socializing with friends and family. Drinking can be beneficial or harmful, depending on your age and health status, and, of course, how much you drink.

For anyone who drinks, this site offers valuable, research-based information. What do you think about taking a look at your drinking habits and how they may affect your health? Rethinking Drinking can help you get started.

NIAAA Rethinking Drinking Website